Making short run injection molds with 3D printing

Using 3D printing to make injection mold tools can not only save time but also expense over aluminum or steel molds.

In the video below the molds were 3D printed in Objet Digital ABS material. These mold tools are then injected with real polypropylene at 220 degrees C.

The Digital ABS molds were used in over 100 injection shots, producing a total of 600 ice cream spoons, without any visible deformation to the tools.

It used only 7 hours to complete the process, while normally it might take 30 days for the work with traditional manufacturing. The cost saving - 44% over aluminium, 75% over steel is based on the data collected from two traditional CNC mold tool manufacturers in South America.

Hi, 3D printers are amusing solution of Molds, I thing to start this business in UAE or Iraq if you could help me technical wise (I am Iraqi citizen living in UAE).
Email:abbas.tarik@gmail.com
Mobile No: 00971507878311

Stock Expert wrote at 7/12/2013 12:20:07 PM:

Where is this factory that can only make 600 spoons in 30 days.? Really? Where? I dont believe a factory could exist.
http://finance.yahoo.com/mbview/threadview/?&bn=9b016042-7e3d-4540-847b-f38a12505189&tid=1373576348377-f49f07c0-ddfe-4f15-b7bf-b63f48f89ca0&tls=la%2Cd%2C0%2C3

daniel m. wrote at 5/24/2013 6:26:55 PM:

which , layer thickness ,resolution ,dpi is required to have a nice and good quality mold
i am thinking on buying a 3d printer(on the range of 2000/2500 dlls) to make my own molds , or its a better idea to send my files to print to a big house 3d printer company ?, the thing i want to print is a raspberry pi case . greetings !

@ThatGuy wrote at 4/10/2013 1:26:10 PM:

Probably cos the print material is not foodsafe. And even if it was, mechanical performance would not be comparable to the injected polypropylene.

ThatGuy wrote at 4/8/2013 9:06:20 PM:

Why not just print the spoons?

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